Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Inge Wilken
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Matlosana is alarmed by the daily sewer overflows plaguing Ward 39, with between five and eight spills occurring every day, creating dangerous health hazards, environmental damage, and unbearable living conditions (see photo here).
The DA is calling on the responsible departments to:
- Allocate sufficient resources to repair and maintain infrastructure.
- Prioritise long-standing problem areas.
- Implement sustainable, long-term solutions instead of short-term patches.
This is not an isolated issue. Communities across Greater Matlosana are suffering the same neglect. Despite numerous complaints, Council telephone lines often go unanswered, forcing residents to call multiple times before incidents are logged.
Operational teams are stretched to breaking point, facing a chronic shortage of working vehicles and basic tools. Repairs are often temporary, with the same overflows recurring at the exact same locations.
As part of the DA’s turbocharged campaign for service delivery, we are intensifying our efforts to hold the municipality accountable and demand immediate action. Ward 39 — and the broader Matlosana area — cannot continue to function under these conditions. Our residents have waited long enough for relief.
The DA will continue to fight for dignified living conditions, reliable service delivery, and a municipality that is accountable to its people.